Baahubali 2: Unprecedented frenzy hits the roof

The frenzy hits the peak as the Baahabali-2 is set for release today to enthral crores of fans of the most-popular franchise who are eager to know 'Why Katappa killed Baahubali' and also to rewrite box-office records.

The expectations for the second part is more than four to five times of part one since the latter turned out to be the top grosser in T-town by garnering more than Rs 245 crore all over the world and became a brand of its own besides fetching national fame for ace director Rajamouli and Prabhas, Rana in 2015.

“Going by the unprecedented advance bookings and unmanageable long queues outside ticket counters despite sweltering heat, the craze for Baahubali-2 is unmatched and unprecedented in the annals of Telugu cinema since no other film created so much buzz inside and outside the industry and bound to rewrite box-office records,’ says leading distributor M Venkatakrishna of Krishna district.

Usually, the fans of T-town superstars like Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan, Balakrishna and Mahesh create so much buzz in hundreds of theatres in two Telugu states and overseas but the heady combination of Prabhas-Rajamouli has surpassed it all and setting new precedents in terms of craze and collections.

“Baahubali is truly ahead of other Telugu star films since it is attracting fans of Prabhas and Rajamouli and also non-film viewers in a big chunk, that’s the edge the film has over others,” adds leading exhibitor Srinivas Reddy of Nandyal.

Apart from bolstering fan base for the epic fantasy, even hike in ticket rates and extra shows in TS and AP single screens has come as a booster shot for the magnum opus. “Six shows in Andhra Pradesh and five shows all over Telangana in single screens is a master stroke by producers and its bound fetch them huge additional collections,” says Vijayender Reddy, ex-president of Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce.

“To match up the rising demand for more theatres, the film will be released in more than 1,000 single screens in two Telugu states, albeit, for one or two days in some screens. Nevertheless, single screens got permission to hike ticket rates from Rs 50 to 80 and Rs 70 to 100 for first two weeks which gives the film an edge in opening collections.” he concludes.